Roccacasale

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Roccacasale-Stemma.png official_name = Comune of Roccacasale
name = Roccacasale
region = Abruzzo
province = Province of L'Aquila (AQ)
elevation_m = 450
area_total_km2 = 17.21
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 730
population_density_km2 =42.42
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|42|7|N|13|53|E
frazioni =
telephone = 0864
postalcode = 67030
gentilic = roccolani
saint =
day =
mayor = Domenico Spagnuolo
website = http://www.roccacasale.it/
mapx=42.12
mapy=13.88

Roccacasale is a comune in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Built on the slopes of the Monte della Rocca in the central Apennines, the village overlooks the Peligna Valley and the town of Sulmona.

The village arose from a small settlement called Casali, which had few inhabitants prior to 925. As a result of the construction of the fortified "rocca", sited to control the entrance to the Valle del Sangro and the Cinquemiglia plain, from Saracen or Byzantine, the centre formed, with the passing of time, into a typical medieval walled village on the slopes directly under the castle. The higher part of the village consists of steep roads leading towards the castle, and linked by narrow passageways between buildings constructed on the naked bedrock. Inside the ancient village are the church of Saint Michael Archangel (consecrated in 1579) and the remains of the baronial "palazzo", constructed by the de Sanctis, barons of Roccacasale, next to the church more recently than the castle; very little remains of the "palazzo" today.

External links

* [http://www.roccacasale.it/index_en.html Comune di Roccacasale] * [http://www.roccacasale.it/storia_en.html History]